Reversing out to let a car go past, which driver is at fault?

askingforadvisce

I was driving down a road leaving my home, and there was another car coming by where cars were parked on the opposite side of the road, meaning it was my right of way. I let the other car go through as they insisted to go forward, so out of courtesy I reversed my car. Whilst I was reversing and with the concern that other vehicles would have been behind me. The other car on the other side of the road that I gave way to, didn't give me much space and was going forward quickly which meant for me to reverse quickly. Whilst that was happening I told them ''can you give me a moment to reverse and not drive so close, allow me to reverse so I have some room". They took no notice, and thankfully no accident happened. If there was an accident, considering the other driver had no patience who was at fault? I would be grateful to hear your opinions.

VfM4meplse

Try the motoring board. Mods? :wave:

Helpmeforum

You being pressured by another driver and crashing would still be your fault, if you are reversing and they drive at you too fast and hit you then it's their fault. Take your time behind the wheel reverse slowly and if they are impatient they should be glad your moving out their way! Personally I've seen someone refuse to back up into a laybay behind them in a country lane so I sat there dangling my keys in the windscreen. Not sure on the legality of that so I'm not suggesting it but if they want to be impatient and not reverse a few metres I'll happily make them wait longer haha.

boomer69

askingforadvisce wrote: »

I was driving down a road leaving my home, and there was another car coming by where cars were parked on the opposite side of the road, meaning it was my right of way. I let the other car go through as they insisted to go forward, so out of courtesy I reversed my car. Whilst I was reversing and with the concern that other vehicles would have been behind me. The other car on the other side of the road that I gave way to, didn't give me much space and was going forward quickly which meant for me to reverse quickly. Whilst that was happening I told them ''can you give me a moment to reverse and not drive so close, allow me to reverse so I have some room". They took no notice, and thankfully no accident happened. If there was an accident, considering the other driver had no patience who was at fault? I would be grateful to hear your opinions.

In that scenario, if you reverse into another vehicle, its your fault even if you're reversing for an ambulance.
If you are stationary and someone drives into you its their fault.
Did you really say "can you give me a moment to reverse and not drive so close, allow me to reverse so I have some room"?

Cornucopia

I've moved this thread to the Motoring forum.

AdrianC

askingforadvisce wrote: »

I was driving down a road leaving my home, and there was another car coming by where cars were parked on the opposite side of the road, meaning it was my right of way.

No, it was your priority. Nobody has an absolute right of way.
Big difference.

I let the other car go through as they insisted to go forward, so out of courtesy I reversed my car. Whilst I was reversing and with the concern that other vehicles would have been behind me. The other car on the other side of the road that I gave way to, didn't give me much space and was going forward quickly which meant for me to reverse quickly.

Or they thought there was no need for you to reverse at all, since there was plenty of space.

I live in an area with a lot of single-track and narrow lanes. You can easily tell who isn't used to them, and doesn't have a clue about the width of their car - because they panic and insist on stopping or reversing even when there's oodles of space for two cars to pass.

Whilst that was happening I told them ''can you give me a moment to reverse and not drive so close, allow me to reverse so I have some room". They took no notice, and thankfully no accident happened.

So they were right - there was plenty of space.

If there was an accident, considering the other driver had no patience who was at fault? I would be grateful to hear your opinions.

If you were reversing, and they continued through, it'd be impossible to determine whether the fault was yours or theirs - maybe you wiggled in your reversing, maybe they squeezed where there was no room. Maybe either one of you could have been nearer the side and made space. Insurance would inevitably put it 50/50 without any kind of compelling independent evidence, such as a witness or dashcam.

If you think there's genuinely no space, just stop. If they keep coming and hit you while you're stationary, it's clear-cut. Their fault. If they stop, then you or they reverse.

Some people are impatient and push through when priority is against them. Nobody wins when two people start playing pushy-shovey. So just let them. Priority is a pointer, not an absolute right.

Mercdriver

Right of way is a myth. You can have priority, though.

You would have been at fault for any collision you may have had. I had something similar happen in the Lake District. the other guy had space where I could have passed him safely. He kept coming. I put my handbrake on and turned my ignition off. He reckoned I had hit him, yet I held up my keys. The claim went against him.

iwb100

What are you asking? If another driver is being a bit silly (in your view) or impatient or whatever you still have to drive in a careful and responsible manner.

Lets imagine car pushed through and "forced" you to reverse quickly without checking - and you ran over a child - whose fault is that? Answer is yours. Irrespective of the other car when your vehicle is moving its on you. If you stay still and they hit you then that is their fault.

PasturesNew

Your fault. Any accident with a stationary vehicle is the fault of the one moving.

Your right of way: stand your ground, or be courteous.
Be courteous: be mindful of what's behind you.
Being rushed: Your choice to feel/be rushed, could've stood your ground and turned off your car and waggled your ignition keys through the windscreen before plonking them on the dashboard and getting a magazine out.

The other driver didn't force you, you felt forced. Reverse at your own speed, if he doesn't like it he can ram your car out of his way, then it's his fault.

Comms69

askingforadvisce wrote: »

I was driving down a road leaving my home, and there was another car coming by where cars were parked on the opposite side of the road, meaning it was my right of way. I let the other car go through as they insisted to go forward, so out of courtesy I reversed my car. Whilst I was reversing and with the concern that other vehicles would have been behind me. The other car on the other side of the road that I gave way to, didn't give me much space and was going forward quickly which meant for me to reverse quickly. Whilst that was happening I told them ''can you give me a moment to reverse and not drive so close, allow me to reverse so I have some room". They took no notice, and thankfully no accident happened. If there was an accident, considering the other driver had no patience who was at fault? I would be grateful to hear your opinions.

Apply your brake. If you crash it's your fault.

eschaton

askingforadvisce wrote: »

Whilst that was happening I told them ''can you give me a moment to reverse and not drive so close, allow me to reverse so I have some room". They took no notice, and thankfully no accident happened.

As others have said, if you hit anything it would have been your fault, quite obvious.

I can’t believe that all this was happening and you were having the above chat. Were your windows side by side?